First Baptist Church turns 80, invites community to worship in the park
In the coming weeks, First Baptist Church (FBC) in Medford will celebrate two noteworthy events.
August 17 will mark the 80th anniversary of FBC in Medford, and FBC will hold its annual church service in the Medford city park on Sunday, August 18 at 10 a.m.
In putting on the church service in the park, FBC endeavors to spread their message of faith to members of the community who may feel uncomfortable walking into a church building.
The church service in the park is open to anyone. During the service, worship music will be played in the Tombstone Bandshell.
“It’s a low-key way if someone is just wanting to celebrate with us or check out what it means to follow Jesus and worship God,” said Tawnya Smith, worship and communications director at FBC. The event will have free food. FBC encourages attendees to stop by the welcome table to receive a small gift.
The day prior to the church service in the park, FBC will officially turn 80. “The mission of First Baptist Church is to treasure God and love people. We believe that God is actually the one who made everything, who made you and me, and sent Himself so we can be in relationship with Him. That’s why First Baptist started. That’s why we still exist,” Smith said.
FBC was founded on August 17, 1944, with Mike Evan as pastor. Meetings of the congregation had started several years prior to the August 17 date, with Pastor Evan and people from Goodrich gathering regularly.
At its beginning, FBC met in Pastor Evan’s home on Sunday evenings. Several of the original members descendants still attend FBC, making being a part of FBC a five generation tradition for those individuals.
After the first services in Pastor Evan’s home, the church relocated to a bowling alley at the location where Ackeret Brothers Appliance and TV is on State St. in Medford. There, the early risers of the congregation cleaned up beer bottles and cigarettes before services started.
Next, FBC rented the People’s Congregation Church, which was located where Krug’s Law Office currently is on 2nd St., in the fall of 1945 and purchased it in 1949 for $5,000. In 1949, the church succeeded at their goal of bringing in 50 people for their Easter service. This year, FBC had 749 people attend their Easter services.
In 1950, a fire destroyed the interior of the church building. FBC was able to repair the building and continue to hold service in the People’s Congregation Church until a second fire completely destroyed the building in December of 1965.
A Star News article from December 30, 1965, described the fire: “Flames shooting skyward in the early morning hours Tuesday razed the First Baptist Church, a 66-year-old landmark [the building itself was 66 years old] poised atop the hill overlooking Main St. The interior aflame when discovered at 1:20 o’clock, firemen concentrated their efforts to keep the fire from spreading to a nearby apartment dwelling and a law office.”
The article later notes, “two electric roasters and a coffee maker were the only articles saved.”
Following the fire, existing plans to expand to a larger church building were expedited. Ground was broken at the building site on W Broadway Ave. in Medford on May 24, 1966. The church was dedicated in 1967, with 1,000 people were present.
In 1990, the Cutting Edge Youth Center was constructed on N Main St. in Medford. Smith said the vision for the Cutting Edge Youth Center was and continues to be something that is community wide. “That’s always been a strong heart of the church body here, to serve kids and youth in the area,” she stated.
FBC held services on W Broadway Ave. until 2018, when they moved to their current building on Grace Way in Medford. Following the church’s move, the Cutting Edge Youth Center relocated to the former church building on W Broadway Ave, and the Cutting Edge Youth Center building was sold to Abiding Care Resource Center.
Throughout its 80-year history, FBC has seen many changes. However, according to church elder Bill Hall, one constant has been the church’s outreach efforts. “I don’t see the church as ever being satisfied with just having a Sunday morning service and that’s it,” he said.
In the years following its establishment in 1944, FBC started a Sunday School and radio broadcasts of gospel readings. Beginning in 1953, FBC dedicated a portion their funds to support missions. ““Even though they were a struggling church, they dedicated a lot of funds to missions and missionaries around the world,” Hall said.
Presently, FBC supports mission trips around the world. They currently help ministry workers in 16 locations including Ukraine, United Kingdom, Nepal/India, Thailand, Ghana, and states within the United States.
Within the Taylor County community today, FBC hosts children’s ministries, youth programs like the ones at Cutting Edge Youth Center, bible study groups, and ministries for senior citizens. Their goal is to reach people from birth to grave.
Additionally, FBC is “brainstorming ways to love and be a blessing to the Taylor County community,” according to Smith.
One of the most prominent examples of FBC’s impact on Taylor County is their food pantry. The food pantry has served families in the area for around 30 years. There is no income requirement to get food, and the food pantry hold regular hours from 10 a.m. to noon on Mondays
From 1945 until 1965, First Baptist Church held services at this church that burned down in 1965. (right) In 1965, a fire completely destroyed the First Baptist Church, which was located on 2nd St at the top of the Angel Flight staircase in Medford.
